Appeal Case in Constitutional CourtBy now you already know that the Minister of Police decided to take the ruling of Judge Tolmay on appeal to the Constitutional Court. This application will be heard in the Constitutional Court on 8 February 2018.

In order to collect money for the court case, we will have a lucky draw for a hunting rifle in .308 Win or 6,5 Creedmoor (your choice of one of the two calibres) with a Leopold VX 3i telescope donated by Sons of Guns. For only R50 or any multiple thereof, you could win this hunting rifle in a lucky draw.Please make payment by EFT into the Legal Aid Fund of SA Hunters in multiples of R50. The Legal Aid Fund’s account is with ABSA and the account number is 9134305406. Please note that this is a different account number from the regular account used for paying in membership fees and other payments. When transferring the money, please use the following information as reference, with a space between the two entities:

K

Your mobile phone number

Please note that this competition is not limited to members of SA Hunters only. The intention is to deliberately open it to as many people as possible. All firearm owners will benefit from a favourable decision in the Constitutional Court, not only members of SA Hunters only. You may distribute this information as widely as you wish and have it published in your local or regional newspapers.

3. Retention of Dedicated StatusAt the end of November 2017, we have 15 106 Dedicated Hunters and 7 959 Dedicated Sport Shooters that are already compliant with adequate activities registered to retain dedicated status.

There are a further 2 239 Dedicated Hunters and 1 511 Dedicated Sport Shooters that still need to report further activity to retain this status. They are not compliant for this year. In a last attempt from our side to remind them to report the necessary activities, these members already received a SMS and e-mail to inform them that they are not compliant.

These are the members who will have their dedicated status terminated and the CFR will be informed in writing that they are no longer dedicated members of SA Hunters. They may be at risk of losing some of their firearms.We regularly receive calls from either professional hunters or farmers that claim they hunt and shoot regularly. These activities are only valid if they are properly logged as shooting and hunting activities towards complying with the Act to retain your status as Dedicated Hunter or Dedicated Sport Shooter.

5. Use of Ivory Inherited from Nico van RooyenIn 2016, Congress granted approval to cut the ivory inherited from Nico van Rooyen and use it as handles for a range of commemorative knives and to manufacture jewellery. The necessary permits were obtained from the Department of Nature Conservation in Gauteng and the ivory was indeed cut into pieces.

The first set of commemorative knives made are known as the Doctari/Nico van Rooyen knives that are available on order. Each knife is hand-made. Therefore, a waiting period of approximately three months from the receipt of your order and payment to the date of delivery will apply.

Photographs of the knives are available here.

Only 150 of these knives will be made and each knife will be numbered. Should you wish to order one of these knives please do the following. Transfer R5 500 to the account of SA Hunters by means of an EFT. The account of SA Hunters is held at ABSA with the account number 01443990077. The Branch Code is 632005. Please use the following reference: Knife and your Cell Phone Number. Please forward proof of payment to admin@sahunt.co.za.

We received enquiries from members and knifemakers about purchasing pieces of the ivory to make their own knives. At its meeting on 16 November the Board decided not to make any pieces of the available ivory for sale.

7. Database of Ballistic Fingerprinting of FirearmsIn the draft amendment bill provided by the SAPS in 2015 a significant portion was allocated to the intended ballistic fingerprinting of all legally owned and licensed firearms.

SA Hunters, as one of a number of firearms user groups, sponsored a scientific research study undertaken by the well-known Dr David Klatzow to investigate the viability as well as reliability of ballistic fingerprinting of firearms.

The results of this study was made available in the form of an electronic book titled “Defective Science” on 4 December 2017. This clearly shows that ballistic fingerprinting of firearms and retention of these ballistic fingerprints of firearms in a database is not reliable and would largely be a waste of resources and time.

SA Hunters published a press statement in this regard. You will find the press statement here.

An electronic copy of the full book is available in PDF format on the web page of SA Hunters and you will find it here.

8. HuntEx 2018HuntEx Gauteng will again be held at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand from 27 April to 1 May 2018. Pleas diarise these dates and plan accordingly.

10. History of SA HuntersSA Hunters will be 70 years old in 2019. In 2016, we started with a process with Oom George Nell to compile the history of SA Hunters over this period with a view to publish a book in 2019, when SA Hunters reaches the ripe age of 70 years.Oom George will appreciate any information on the Association, its activities, role-players and how the Association grew during the 70 years of its existence. He already received loads of information and documents kindly provided to him by members of SA Hunters. Please be patient while we peruse the documentation for inclusion in the book. He will take good care of your possessions.Please contact Oom George at 082 926 9641 if you have any useful information.11. Kommersiële sakeSoos gebruiklik, sluit ons skakels in na ons webwerf vir meer inligting oor spesiale aanbiedings vir SA Jagters se lede. Kliek op die skakel waarin u belangstel. Ons sluit kort beskrywings in van spesiale boodskappe of inligting oor nuwe verskaffers wat afslag aan lede bied.Die volgende leweransiers bied spesiale voordele aan lede van SA Jagters.

Kliek hiervir meer inligting oor enige van die bogenoemde voordele.12. National Conservation ProjectAt the last Board meeting the SA Hunters Board decided to launch a national conservation project next year in support of the National Arbor Day (Nasionale Boomplantdag). More information on this project and on the national tree of the year for 2018 will be made available early next year.

14. Christmas Message from the PresidentThe President of SA Hunters annually writes a specific Christmas message to members. Dr Gerhard Verdoorn has done so again this year and his message is available here. Please take the time to read his message at a time that is difficult for many of our members. It is a message of hope that may guide our behaviour during this period of goodwill, but also during some challenging times that may lie ahead.